Leaving Cert class of 2022: Do you want the good news or bad news first?

So, we're finally back to the good old Leaving Cert?
Sort of. On foot of a decision by the Government this week, the Leaving Cert will not be based on teachers' estimates for the first time since the pandemic hit in 2020. Instead, students will be required to sit written exams in the summer and complete orals, practicals and project work.

However, the exams themselves will be amended significantly compared with normal years – with more choice and fewer questions. This means students will be able to complete exams without having covered the entire course.

This is all aimed at easing the burden facing students due to the scale of Covid-related disruption to their education over the past two years.

I presume students are devastated?
Disappointed but not devastated. Many students who sought a hybrid Leaving Cert were aware that grades based on teachers' estimates were higher than those achieved in exams.

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However, Minister for Education Norma Foley has promised that the overall grade profile for this year's Leaving Cert students will be in line with that of last year's record high.

In other words, students this year will receive a similar proportion of H1s, H2s and H3s to those secured in 2021 through the accredited grades process.

This is in response to concerns among this year’s students that they would be disadvantaged in the points race compared with students applying for college places based on last year’s bumper results.

If the Government is so caring, why did it kill off the hybrid option?
Officials say the absence of Junior Cert exam data for about 25 per cent of the class of 2022 – students who did not complete transition year and, as a result, did not sit cancelled exams in 2020 – would have "seriously weakened" the integrity of accredited grades based on teachers' estimates.

Standardisation is crucial: it helps ensure consistency and fairness in results by pulling down excessive grades and pulling up underestimated grades. Without it, for example, there is nothing to prevent some schools awarding top grades to all students while others play by the rules.

Surely, they could have found a way around this?
Officials say one option was to use school historical data, a controversial measure known as "school profiling". This involves examining a school's performance in the exams over a number of years and using it to help predict grade profiles. However, there was little support for this due to a perception that it could penalise students from disadvantaged areas.

The Government agreed that a system of written exams, with significant adjustments, as well as guarantees that grades would remain at last year’s level, was the fairest solution.

Students can expect another bumper year of top grades. They'll be thrilled.
Well, if last year is anything to go by, it could be bitter-sweet. Many students celebrated a record haul of high grades when they got their results last September – only to be crushed when college offers were issued a few days later. CAO points climbed to a new high, and universities ended up using random selection, or a lottery, to select applicants for high-points and high-demand courses.

Any advice for students between now and June?
Schools are due to receive details of adjustments to this year's Leaving Cert exams next week. They will be very similar to last year, so 2021's written exams offer a good template of what to expect. The forthcoming mock exams are a good chance for students to practise performing under exam conditions.

Meanwhile, students should ignore any further debate around whether a hybrid option should have been used: it’s now time for them to prepare for exams to the best of their ability.